Hong Kong International Airport suspended all incoming and outgoing flights Monday after thousands of pro-democracy protesters stormed multiple terminals; escalating months of clashes between local residents and the Chinese government.
“The demonstration is the latest in a series of mass protests spanning two months. Hong Kong activists are calling for more autonomy from Beijing and an independent inquiry into police behavior,” reports USA Today. “The tension was sparked by a since-shelved extradition bill, which would have allowed some suspects to be sent for trial in mainland China. Opponents believed the bill would expand Beijing’s control on the bustling international hub.”
"Pro-democracy demonstrators have occupied every inch of this terminal" says the BBC's China correspondent @StephenMcDonell, as Hong Kong airport cancels flights because of anti-government protests https://t.co/CsWaHwvus0 pic.twitter.com/kivWuoJ0h5
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 12, 2019
Hong Kong was ruled by the United Kingdom as part of a 100-year lease until 1997.
Since that time, the region operates as a “separate zone” from the rest of China; with eased restrictions on finances, technology, communications, and more.
Big sit-in at #HongKong airport against Police violence.
ALL flights are canceled (around 1100/day), protestors occupying terminals: pic.twitter.com/i5HTrX3aKJ
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) August 12, 2019
“The protests kicked off on June 9 as hundreds of thousands peacefully took to the streets until a group stormed the government headquarters, where police responded with batons and pepper spray. Since then, the conflict has intensified significantly into violence between protesters and police,” adds the website.
Read the full report at USA Today.
AMERICA FIRST: Trump SLAMS China with $60 Billion in Trade Tariffs
The Trump administration announced crippling new trade tariffs against China this week, targeting one of America’s major trading partners with over $60 billion on foreign-produced goods.
According to CNBC, President Trump signed the executive order in the White House Thursday afternoon, saying the new tariffs were “the first of many” as America struggles to shrink its massive trade deficit.
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is set to publish a highly-anticipated report in two weeks; detailing over 1,300 product lines impacted by the new import tax.
“The challenge for every president is how to do it in a way that doesn’t punish Americans for China’s misbehavior,” said Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “So, you’ve really got to narrow these and target these.”
The new tariff’s come as the Trump administration announced a massive tariff on steel and aluminum; charging foreign-producers a 25% import fee for access to American markets.
AMERICAN INGRATE: LiAngelo Ball says UCLA FORCED Him to Thank Trump After China Incident
The UCLA basketball star who was arrested in China for shoplifting now claims he was ordered to “thank President Trump” by school officials, adding he never would have expressed his gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief had the university not “told him to do it.”
LiAngelo Ball and two other college basketball players were detained by Chinese police, and subsequently released following President Trump’s intervention. Upon their arrival in the United States, the trio thanked the President for securing their freedom.
the university “told him to do it”
Ball now reveals his gratitude was anything but genuine, telling sports website ForTheWin that he was instructed to thank the President after the Commander-in-Chief mentioned the international spat on social media.
“They wanted to hear that, and he tweeted about it before my speech so I had to add it in there right before I gave it,” said LiAngelo.
“My school wanted to hear it too. Before I went up there, it’s like, ‘You gotta thank him.’ I just threw him in there real quick before I gave my speech,” he added. “If they didn’t want me to do it. If they didn’t tell me to do it, it wouldn’t have been in there, to be honest.”
LiAngelo’s father, LaVar Ball, raised eyebrows across the country last month, refusing to thank President Trump for his son’s release during a bizarre interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo.
“What did Trump ever do to help me?” asked Ball.